Apparatus for making decoratively covered heels



March 26, 1940. e. w; HQWLETT APPARATUS FOR MAKING DECORATIVELY COVERED HEELS Filed March 3, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 I m m March 26, 1940. s. w. HOWLETT 2,194,702.

APPARATUS FOR MAKING DECORATIVELY COVERED HEELS.

@ fwzgwp March 26, 1940. w H LETT 2,194,702

APPARATUS FOR MAKING DECORATIVELY COVERED HEELS Filed March 3, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 jiwell/w'} March 2 1940. G. w. HOWLETT 2,194,702

APPARATUS FOR MAKING DECORATIVELY COVERED HEELS Filed March 5, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 n v u March 26, 1940. e. w. HOWLETT APPARATUS FOR MAKING DECORATIVELY COVERED HEELS Filed March 3, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Q M R NWN QRWN

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Referring in detail to the drawings, I, findicate legs or supports for oppositely disposed lon Patented Mar. 1940 I UNITED STATES APPARATUS FOR ,194,702 MAKING DECORATIVELY covsnen HEELS I Grayl e Howlet t, Evanstonpl'll. 7 Application March 3', 1939, Serial No. 259.540 I i '11 Claims; (01. 91-16) This is a continuation in part of 'mycopend ing application Serial No. 84,429, filed June 10, 1936, now matured into Patent No. 2,149,293, issued on March 7, 1939, and relates to improvements in means for decorating irregular shaped objects, and refers specifically tomeansfor dec crating heels as a continuous operation, I I

The objects and advantages of myinvention will beapparentfrom the accompanying drawings and following detailed description.

i In thedrawings, Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of the apparatus comprising my invention. i

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatusillustrated in Fig. 1.

I Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on. line 3-3 of Fig. 1; I II I Fig. 4 is atransverse sectional viewtaken" on line 4-4 of Fig. 1. I Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are a series of sectional views illustrating the rolling of; the coated heel over the die or mold, said sections beingtaken upon. lines -5, 6-6 and 1-? of Fig. 8. i

Fig. 8 is a face view of one form of mold or die.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on line's-9 I of Fig. 8. I I I 3 Fig. 10 is a side elevational view of a finished heel. U Fig. 11 is .a. sectionalview taken through the heel shown in Fig. 10 illustrating particularly the coating thereof.

Fig; 12'is a detailed view ,of the device for tipping the heel prior to its contact with the mold or die. I I h Fig. 13 is a face view of a modified form of embossing die.

Fig. 14 is a sectional view taken'on line 14-34 4 of Fig. 13. I

Fig. 15 is a face view of another modified form of embossing die. l

Fig. 16 is a sectional view taken on line l 6.-Hi

Fig. 17 is a top plan View of the upper end of one of the type bodies. Fig. 18 is a sectional View taken on line I 8--IB gitudinally extending frame members :2 and, 3. The frame members 2 and 3 are spaced by end supports 4 and 5. A shaft 6 is journalledzat each of its ends in theframe members 2 and 3 adjacent one end of the machine. A shaft '1 is similarly-journalledat the opposite end thereof. 'A, pair of sprocket wheels 8 are mounted upon shaft 6. andacorresponding pair of sprocket wheels 9 are mounted upon shaft. 1. Sprocket wheel IE1 is also'mounted upon one end of shaft 1 and is driven by sprocket chain l l which is trained around sprocket pinion I2 mounted upon shaft Q1 l3 of 1 a conventional speed reducing mechanism l4. The'input to the speed reducing mechanism comprises a pulley l5 which is driven by means "of a belt Hi, the belt in turn being driven by pul- 'ley I! mounted on the armature shaft of mo- 19 torl8.

Sprocket chains l9, l9 travel around both pairs of sprocket wheels 8 and 9 ina continuous or endless fashion. A plurality of bars 2ll are secured to the chains l9, said flbars transversely .5 spanning the space between said chains. The bars 20 are spaced from each other along the length of chains IS', the degree of said spacing beingudetermined, as will be hereinafter more which resiliently forces the heels to be coated into contact with the mold or die.

Referring particularly to Fig. 3 it will be seen that each bar 20 carries intermediate its length a bearing 2i in which a pin .22 is journalled. 2p

theaxis of said pin extending at right an les to the length of the bar 20. At one end of the pin 22 a pinion 23 is keyed, and rigidly secured to the opposite endof said pin on the opposite side of bar 20 is a coil spring 24. The coils of 39" the spring 24 are normally in contact with each other and the pitch of said coils is relatively small. At the opposite end of the spring 24 a sharpenedpin 25 ismounted. During the operation of the machine in carrying out my process,

the bottoms of the heels .26 to be coated are impaled uponthe points of the pins 25.

When the motor 18 is set inoperation, chains l9 travel continuously over sprocket wheels 8 and 9. Lug 2'! is rigidly secured at one end to 49 pin 22 and when the heels are impaled upon pins 25 they are placed thereon at adefinite position with respect to the lug 21. This is accomplished as follows: Strips 28 and 2B are secured at their ends to the frame member 2 and extend substan- 5 tially horizontally toward the opposite frame member 3. Similar strips Hand 29' are secured at their ends to theframe member 3 and extend oppositely toward frame member '2. Adjacent the path of travel of chains t9, the strips28. 28', 29 and 29' are bent upwardlyto a point-above the path of travel .of chains l9 andare againbent to bringthe free ends of the strips horizontally over the path of travel of the chains. The free endsof the strips28 carry a guide bar 30 which positioned oppositely from the guide bar 36.

Similarly the free ends of strips 28' carry spaced guide bar 3| The arrangement is such that as chains I9 travel in the direction indicated by the arrows in Figs. 1 and 2, lugs 21 contact the curved ends of the opposite guide bars 30 and iii and in order to permitpassage of the lugs forwardly, said lugs must be so moved as to dispose their longitudinal axes parallel to the length of the guide bars 30 and 3|. While the lugs are so;-

positioned, the heels are impaled upon the points of pins 25 and are impaled at a predetermined.

position with respect to the position of the lugs 21. Consequently, when said lugs are so moved as to be disposed with their axes parallel to the guide bars 30 and 31, the heels 26 will be carried forwardly in a predetermined position.

A standard or support 32 is mounted upon frame member 2 and is provided with an elongated central bore 33 which is adapted'to receive aspindle 34. The spindle 34 carries a clamp 35 at its upper end which, in turn, is adapted to carry a spray gun 36 having a nozzle 3?; The spray gun 36 is" movable longitudinally within the clamp 35 and maybe locked therein by means of bolt 38. The spindle 3G is movable vertically within the bore 33 and may be locked at a desired position by means of the set screw 32% The; gun 36 is connected by means of flexible conduits 40 and 40' torespectively sources of coating liquid and air under pressure (not shown). The

when chains l9 have moved a heel 26 and its supporting, assembly to the vicinity of rack M, the pinion 23 engages the teeth it upon said rack. Simultaneously a trigger (not shown) which is adapted to actuate the spray gun 3E,'is

tripped by conventional means (not'shown) carried by one of the chains H] which causes a spray of coating material 41 to issue from nozzle 31. As the chains l9 move, the engagement of pinion 23 with the teeth 46 of rack'M causes" rotation of pin-2|, spring 24 and, consequently, rotation of heel 26. The length of the rack M is so correlated with the diameter of the pinion 23 and the initial position of the heel 26, as lug 21 leaves the tracks 30 and 3|, that the heel 26 is rotated within the volume of spray 41.

If desired, the spray gun 36 may be actuated by means (not shown) to swing the gun during the entire period of rotation of the heel, so that the spray will be trained on the heel during the entire period of its rotation. v

When the heel leaves the vicinity of the -;rack 44 a trigger (not shown) is tripped by the movement of one of the chains l9 so as to shut off thespray. The coating fluid which I prefer'to use comprises a cellulosic compound or mixture, the mixture comprising in general nitrocellulose, an active solvent, a diluent", and a plasticizer. The characteristics of this material are such that when dry or set it forms axdurable, attractive surface, and the proportionsof the materials are so selected as to provide a fluid which may be ing materials in the proportions given makes a suitable coating mixture:

I Ounces Amyl" acetate 16 Denatured-alcohol 8 Benzo-l or toluol 48 Ethyl'aoetate' 24 Oleum recini (castor oil) 32 Nitrocellulose l6 Desired pigment in suitable quantity to pro- 'duc'e' the desired color.

y In theabo-ve set forth list alcohols may be substituted as diluents for benzol or toluol. In general, esters or ketones may be utilized as active solvents, for instance, butyl acetate, amyl acetate or -."C ellusolve, beingesters, may be used in place of ethyl acetate or among the ketones, acetone or ethyl methylketone may be substituted forthe ethyl acetate. In place of castor oiljas atplasticizer linseed oil, dibutyl pthalate or other well known plasticizing compounds may beused. i

If desired, gums such as dammar, ester, synthetic resins may be added to the above materials in suitable proportions to increase the solid content of. the mixture and produce a more flexible resulting film. Such gums may, if desired, be used along with proper diluents and/or solventsin place of the cellulosic mixture above suggested. However, in general the material sprayed upon the heel must be one which is capable of resulting. in a relatively durable and attractive'film-andone over which the rate of drying or setting can be controlled so that the subsequent step of graining or embossing can be carried out while the film is in a suitable plastic condition."

If desired, the sprayed material may comprise a thermo-plastic material .which may be permitted to completely set after spraying and before graining. In order to emboss such'a film the heels may be passed through a preheating zone-beforegraining whereby the film may changed to the plastic state, and. if desired. the embossing die may be heated to perform the embossing operation without the application of excessive pressures. Of course, regardless of the material used to establish the film the embossin pressure will be dependent upon the hardness of the film during the embossing operation, as hereinafter described,

After leaving rack 44 theheel is carried forwardly by the chains I9 and again said heels are oriented by rails 30' and 3| which act upon lugs 21. In this manner the heels are carried forwardly to the embossing unit designated generally at 48. It can readily be seen, therefore, that the proportions of the materials sprayed upon the heel, particularly with reference to the .diluents and'solvents, must be correlated with the distance between thepoint of spraying and the embossing unit 48 taken in conjunction with the rate of travel of the chains i9 so that the film member 10 is rigidly carried, the arms "H and carried by the heel is in proper plastic condition to be acted upon in :theembo'ssing unit 4 8.

is adjustably mounted upon bracket 65, the ad.-

justable mounting comprising a set, screw 54 which extends through slot 5'5 provided in the base member 52. By this provision the standard 5| maybe adjustably disposed and locked at a :desired position determined by the length of slot.

"55. "The upright member. 53 is provided with. a central bore 56in which a spindle 5! is adapted to be positioned. "The spindle 5'! is movable longitudinally within bore 56 and may be locked at a desired position vertically by a set screw 58. 'A lug St is pivotally secured to the upper end of the spindle 5?, said lug being rigidly attached or formed integral with frame to. By the provision of the pivotal mounting of frame 60 upon spindle El, said frame may be moved to a desired angular position and may be locked in such position by means of a winged nut 68. The frame 6b is adapted .to carry an embossing mold 62 which may be locked in said frame by means of set screw 63. The embossing mold 62 comprises a block having a portion E3 of its face provided with a surface contour which conforms with the exterior or coated surface of heel 2 5, that is, the development'of such external surface excluding the breast of the heel.

1 During the embossing operation eachheel 26 is rolled over the section 63' of the mold 62 and theretorethe section 63 of the mold is formed with a surface contour which will register with the surface ofthe heel during the rolling operation. The face of the section adapted to contain a series of relatively minute projections or indentations which resemble in inverse rela tionship the rainmarks'of leather. 9T0 provide such surface the block 52 including the section 5.3 may be cast from metal as a unit, the in.-

.surface of the section 63'.

dentations and projections being cast upon the If desired the mold 62 may be so cast as to provide a't the section 63 only the surface contour of the rolled heel and the 'embossing projections and indentations may be carried upon a strip 64 which may be adhesively or otherwise secured to the face ,of the section 53'. In this event the surface of the strip 64 serves as the embossing surface. The strip 64! may be constructed of leather, nib-leer; or any material which can be embossed to provide the desired projections" and indentations and which may be shaped to conform. with the surface contour of the section 53: In the event this latter type of embossing surface is used. it is preferable that the strip 64 be'baclred with a layer or sheet of resilient material whereby com pensation may be made for slight variations in v the surface contours of heels WhichKa-re presumably similar but which are actually slightly different in contour, c

Opposite to the mold 62 a pair of standards 55 are secured to. rail or frame member 2 by means above mentioned extension of the shaft 13, and consequently the driven pulley M is moved backcam l3 will have so movedas to permit the reof the coil spring 24. Consequently, as the chains "I2 of said member serving as'bearings for azshaft '13 upon w'hicha pulley M is mounted. A :coil spring 15 embracesshaft 61 between sleeve 66 and-the member 70, the oppositeends of said 5 coil spring bearing upon sleeve 56 and the mem ber ll]. As can readily be seen by reference .to Figs. 2 and 4, the pulleys "l4 are vertically positioned adjacent the path of travel of .the heels 26. A belt 16 is trained around the spaced pula leys l4 and is provided withza'relatively high frictio'nsurface.

.A bevel gear ill .is keyed to shaft 1' andmeshes with bevel pinion lt carried by shaft 79. Shaft sprocket chain 83 which; in turn, is trained around sprocket wheel 84 carried upon the lower end of one of the shaftslS. In this manner one of the pulleys M is driven from shaft l and through the medium of belt "it drives the other pulley M. In practicethe linear speed of belt 16 is equal to or slightly greater than the linear speed of the chains (5; The purpose of sodrivingbelt U3 will. be hereinafter more fullydescribed. a r r i, i

Cams R9 are mounted upon the outer side of the chain 19 which'travels adjacent the frames memberz, said cams being mounted slightly in advanceof the cross members or bars'ZEl, con?- s'idered in the direction of travel of the chains. An extension (not'shown) is provided upon the lowerend of the first shaft. 73 upon which the 3 driven pulley M is mounted, said extension being positioned in the path of travel of cams It.

As -c'hains i 91 move forwardly carrying the coated heels towardunit it, cams'l contact the wardly away from the passing heel against the tension of the first spring 115.- This permits the positioning of the heel betweenthebelt "F6 and die. After the heel has assumed this position turn of the driven pulley M to its normal position-and, hence',-'the belt it will exert a lateral pressure upon the heel tending to move the same is such that spring '88 resists motion of arm 85 in a. clockwise direction. The end of arm 85 extends in the path of travel of the upper portion it move forwardly theupper end of the coil (6 spring Zis contactedby the end of arm just prior to the period when lug Zl' leaves tracks 3!)" and 31. This action tilts thespring 24 in a backwardlydirection and also in a direction toward mold 62 until the adjacent corner of the heel engages the side 89 of the sectioniit. A-t the period that this engagement takes place the end of lug 2'! will have left tracks 36' and 3! and, hence, heel 2% will be free to rotate. Consequently, due to the motion of the belt it which resiliently presses said heel toward the section 63' of the mold G2, the heel is rotated so that its external surface rolls over the moldlor die 64.

Inasmuch as the coating? or film upon the ex- 75 ternal surface of the heel 26 at this period is in a more or less plastic condition, the projections and indentations formed in the surface of the die 64 will impress or emboss said plastic film carried upon the heel whereby the grain marks characteristic of leather will be imparted to the plastic film. By driving the belt 16 at a slightly greater speed than chains I 9, the possibility of slippage occurring between the external face of the heel and the section 64 is eliminated.

A support 49' ismounted upon the bracket 49, said support carrying a plurality of coil springs 50', one of which is shown in Fig. 4. A plate 5| is carried at the outer ends of the springs 59 and in turn carries a facing 52' which is constructed of leather, soft rubber, fabric or the like. The plate 5| and facing 52 are positioned beneath the die 62 and are so adjusted that the pinion 23 makes frictional contact with the facing 52'. In doing so a turning movement is imparted to the pinion which assists in the rotation of the heel over the die face. Of course, the relationship between the pinion and facing 52 is not a positive one and slippage therebetween is permitted, the only function being to assist in the turning of the heel.

'By referring to Figs. 5, 6 and 7 the position of the heel 26 between the belt 16 and mold 62 is illustrated, said views respectively showing the heel at its initial position between the belt and the mold, at its central position and also at its provision is made for maintaining chain. 83 in' taut condition and comprises an arm pivotally connected at 9| to frame member 2. A spring 92 embraces the pivot in and is anchored at one end upon the pivot pin and at the other upon an intermediate portion of arm 90. A roller 93 is carried at the end of arm 90 and contacts chain 85. The heels 26 which pass from the embossing unit 48 are carried forwardly and may be subsequently removed from the pins 25,'or said heels may be passed through a drying conduit in which warm air may be circulated. The drying conduit is not shown but may be of conventional construction. If desired the return path of travel of chains l9 may be enclosed and warm air may be circulated through the enclosed space thus formed. In this case the dried heels may be removed from the pins 25 just prior to the impalement of the uncoated heels.

To prevent the semi-plastic film carried upon the surface of the heel from adhering to the embossing surface 63, said surface may be periodically coated with a material resembling a masking paste or resist. 'Ihesematerials are common in their use for similar purposes with lacquers and I have found that the following mixture constitutes a suitable masking paste or resist for purposes of my invention.

Parts by weight Glycerol 20 Starch 20 Pigment 10 Water 50 It is to be understood, of course, that the above composition is set forth merely for purposes of illustration and is not intended to serve as a limitation of my invention.

In carrying out the process of my invention, the material initially sprayed upon the heels may be compounded to match the color and sheen of the other portions of the shoes which they are adapted to be used, or a finishing coat of lacquer enamel or other like material made to match the shoes in color may be sprayed or otherwise applied over the dried embossed film.

The die 62 instead of being cast, as hereinbefore described, may be pressed under relatively high pressure, and the embossing surface may be formed by a male'pressing member (not shown).

Referring particularly to Figs. 13 and 14, a modified form of embossing die is shown, wherein 94 indicates a block of resilient material such as sponge rubber or relatively soft gum rubber. A portion 95 of the face of the block 94 is curved to conform with the contour of a heel, and the surface thereof may be grained, as indicated at 96 in Fig. 13, to provide an embossing surface. In viewof the fact that the block 94 is relatively resilient it is not essential that the surface of area 95 be curved to conform exactly with the contour of a heel, an approximate conformation being all that is necessary. In addition, the area 95 may be larger than the development of the heel, which eliminates the necessity of exactly registering a predetermined portion of the heel with a predetermined portion of the embossing face prior to the rolling operation.

To obtain a more clearly demarked embossing surface, and produce a surface with greater wear resistance, I treat the grained surface 95 with chlorine or the like to harden the embossing surface without affecting the resilience of the block itself, that is, the grained surface is case hardened.

Referring to Figs, 15, 16, 17 and 18, another modified form of embossing die is illustrated. In this type of die 91 indicates a backing plate to which is secured lateral walls 98. Flanges 99 are secured to the top of the lateral walls and extend upwardly therefrom. A resilient block I90 is adapted to be positioned within the walls 98, said block preferably comprising relatively resilient gum rubber or the like. The upper surface of the block is preferably curved, as in dicated at llll in Fig. 16, to conform approximately to the developed surface of a heel. The flanges 99 provide a form in which a mass of type bodies I92 are positioned, said bodies being relatively elongated and being disposed side by side so as to completely fill the entire area defined by the flanges 99. The bottom ends rest upon the curved surface of the block m0, and being of substantially equal length the upper ends of said type bodies provide a curved surface which conforms with the curved face of the block I99. In view of the fact that the surface created by the upper ends of the type bodies is curved, it is desirable that the upper ends of the type bodies I92 be so tapered or otherwise formed as to approximately conform to the curved surface. The upper surface of each type body is provided with appropriate indentations and projections, as shown at I03 in Fig. 17, as to simulate the grain marks of leather.

Either block 94 or the assembly comprising block I09 and type bodies 102 may be utilized in place of the embossing die 62. In either case the embossing die will comprise a relatively yielding embossing surface which is capable of producing clean cut grain marks. By approximating the surface contours of the-face and the face ml" with the, developed surface'ofe a heel, the"- embossing pressure over substantially the en tire surface of theheel willqbesubstantially uni":

" same over a previously inked surface of type caused to set in conformation with the surface bodies.

In order to facilitate the handling of the type 102 the lower ends of the type bodies may all be joined together by a relatively thin film of rubber latex or rubber cement, the film being sufficiently thin and resilient as to permit a limited degree of independent longitudinal movement of the individual type bodies.

' By the expression external lateral surface as used in the specification and claims with ref-j erence to the heels ismeant, the surface of the heel excluding the top, bottom and breast portion.

One of the decided advantages of decoratively covered heels as made according to my invention resides in the fact that the covering film is contour of the heel. Although the cover may or may not qualitatively or chemically differ from a cover which is applied as a previously set fiat sheet, physically there is a decided difference in that the cover during application has not been deformed and, consequently, the heel does not possess the stresses of tension and compression which are existent at all times in the cover which must be bent to be applied to the heel surface.

I claim as my invention:

I. A device for applying decorative coverings to heels which comprises in combination means for carrying heels forwardly in seriatim, means disposed adjacent said heel carrying means for applying a potentially hardenable film in fluid condition upon said heels and means disposed adjacent the heel carrying means for embossing the films upon said heels.

2. A device for applying decorative coverings to heels which comprises in combination an endlessly moving conveyor for carrying'heels forwardly in seriatim, means disposed adjacent said conveyor for spraying a potentially hardenable film in fluid condition upon said heels, and

means disposed adjacent said endless conveyor for embossingthe films upon said heels.

3. A device for applying decorative coverings to heels which comprises in combination an endlessly moving conveyor for carrying heels forwardly in seriatim, means disposed adjacent said conveyor for spraying a potentially hardenable film in fluid condition upon said heels, and an embossing die disposed adjacent said endless conveyor for embossing the films upon said heels.

4. A device for applying decorative coverings to heels which comprises in combination an endlessly moving conveyor, rotatable means mounted in spaced relationship upon said conveyor for carrying heels forwardly in seriatim, means disposed adjacent said conveyor for rotating said heel carrying means, means mounted adjacent said conveyor for spraying said heels with a potentially hardenable film while said heels are rotated, and means disposed adjacent said conveyor for embossing the films upon saidheels.

5. A devicefor applying decorative coverings toheels which comprises in combinationan endlessly moving conveyor, rotatable means mounted in spaced relationship upon said conveyor for carrying heels forwardlyin seriatim, means dise posed adjacent said conveyor for rotating said heel carryii-igmeans, means mounted adjacent said conveyor for spraying said heels with a potentially hardenable film while said heels are rotated, and an embossing die disposed adjacent said endless conveyor, means for bringing said heels into contact with said die in seriatim, said means causing said heels to roll over the surface of the die to emboss the film thereon.

6. A device for applying decorative coverings to heels which comprises in combination an endlessly moving conveyor, rotatable means mounted in. spaced relationship upon said conveyor for carrying heels forwardly in. seratim, means mounted adjacent said conveyor for coating said heels with a potentially hardenable film while said heels are carried forwardly, an embossing die disposed adjacent said endless conveyor into fcontact with which said heels pass, and means for rotating said heels when said heels contactsaid embossing die to roll said heels over said die and emboss the films upon the surface of the heels. f

7. A device for applying decorative coverings to heels which comprises in combination an endlessly moving. conveyor, rotatable means mounted in spaced relationship upon said conveyor for carrying heels forwardly in seriatim, means mounted adjacent said conveyor for coating said.

heels with a potentially hardenable film while said heels are carried forwardly, an embossing,

die disposed adjacent said endless conveyor into I contact with which said heels pass, means for rotating said heels when said heels contact said embossing 'die to roll said heels over said die and emboss the films upon the surface of the heels, and means disposed adjacent said conveyor for maintaining said heels in film-embossing contact with said die during the rolling of said heels.-

8. A device for applying decorative coverings to heels which comprises in combination an endlessly moving conveyor for carrying heels forwardlyin seriatim, means disposed adjacent said conveyor for applying a potentially hardenable film in liquid condition upon said heels, and an embossing die disposed adjacent said endless.

I conveyor for applying a potentially hardenable film in liquid condition upon said heels, and a conveyor for embossing the film upon said heels,.

said embossing die having a relatively hard embossing surface and a resilient backing.

10. A device for applying decorative coverings to heels which comprises in combination an endlessly moving conveyor for carrying heels forwardly in seratim, means disposed: adjacent said conveyor for applying a potentiallyhardenable film in liquid condition upon said heels, and an embossing die disposed adjacent said endless conveyor for embossing the film upon said heels, said embossing die comprising a casing, a resilient block carried by said casing, and a plurality of type bodies movably positioned relative toeach other carried on said resilient block, said type bodies comprising the embossing surface.

11. A device for applying decorative coverings to heels which comprises in combination an endlessly moving conveyor for carrying heels forwardly in seriatim, a resilient impression member disposed adjacent the path of travel of said endless conveyor, said impression member compris- 

